Parker had an air of prosperity, a presence that was immediately apparent to all who came within his orbit, and he knew it. Handsome for his age, though somewhat florid, his dress had an impeccable quality, with those small additions to standard uniform that hinted at a touch of the dandy. This was reinforced by the numerous mirrors that lined his private quarters, multiplied by the number of times he glanced into them to check his appearance. Dark brown eyes, a straight nose, and full red lips were accentuated by the white wig and sparkling linen of his neckcloth. And since he was going out of his way to be charming, the whole effect would have been pleasing to anyone but his present visitor.
‘Colpoys is finished, Ludlow,’ he said. ‘Damn fool he is too. It might not have been actually stated yet, but if the Channel Fleet returns to duty, his flag won’t be sailing with it.’
‘That seems rather harsh, since, like Lieutenant Bover, he was only acting under what he considered to be firm orders.’
‘Captain, I would not wish you to mistake me. Given a chance I’d use the rope to decimate the entire fleet complement. One man in ten, sir, as the Romans did with their legions. And if that meant the odd innocent cove being strung up with the guilty, then so be it.’
Harry was tempted to say he didn’t care about Colpoys, that he was only making conversation; that since neither Illingworth nor Parker had broached the real reason for inviting him along, he was damned if he was going to be the one to do so.
‘Now I know you’re a bit less of a disciplinarian than I am, what with you financing that funeral for Havergood. And perhaps I am being tactless. But I won’t dissemble for the sake of manners, sir, so if what I say offends you, it is my opinion and must stand.’
Illingworth, who’d been very silent for such a garrulous soul, finally cut in, no doubt worried that if Parker and Harry became disputatious it would serve all of them ill.
‘No doubt there are several different solutions to the present crisis. But what is very apparent is that it creates a dilemma that would not exist in normal times. The navy would have the means to deal with Tressoir.’
Parker’s handsome face showed a slight trace of anger. Clearly if anyone was going to bring up that subject he intended that it should be him.
‘I do hope,’ said Harry, slowly, ‘that your flag-lieutenant delivered my message.’
‘He did,’ Parker replied.
‘Then I fail to see why the subject of Tressoir should be broached.’
‘You know as well as we do that he has offered to sell back Illingworth’s ship and cargo, provided he’s paid in gold and the price is reasonable. On top of that he holds for ransom my brother, his wife, their daughter, and a travelling companion, Lady Katherine Fitzgerald. I need someone to find out what his terms are. The East India Company, or their insurers, can deal with ship and cargo, but the human contents are my family responsibility.’
‘Admiral, you can do that with a cutter. Any midshipman in Portsmouth would jump at the chance to sail to the Bay du Grand Vey and back. And even in a mutiny, you could muster enough hands to sail a ship’s boat for a seventy-mile trip that with a good wind and even a cursory knowledge of the Channel currents could be over and done with in three days.’
‘That’s true.’
‘Then why, pray, am I here?’
Illingworth leant forward with an excited air, the eyes alight in his florid face. ‘What if opportunity to reverse matters presented itself, Ludlow? The kind that no cutter could hope to take advantage of. The chance to take back the Lothian as a prize. That is something that would enhance us all. It would save the admiral money and you’d earn a fortune.’
Harry was thinking that it might also save Illingworth’s position as an East India Company captain, but he left such a supposition out of his reply. ‘I have no need of a fortune.’
‘I know you’ve been successful in your cruise, Captain. Yet I feel the value of my ship can match that.’
Harry was about to ask how he knew. But that was obvious. Everyone aboard Bucephalas had that knowledge and sailors were not noted for discretion. Boasting was more in their line, and clearly one or even more, regardless of what they thought of Harry’s investments, had indulged in just that with Illingworth. The merchant captain continued eagerly.
‘I’ve looked at the tide tables for the Carentan coastline, and Admiral Parker has kindly let me consult his charts. Tressoir cannot get my ship up to Isigny for at least two weeks. So he must be lying to, off the coast, in a vulnerable position.’
‘Illingworth pointed out to me that you have a well-armed ship,’ added Parker, ‘plus, of course, a freedom of action denied even to the most zealous naval officer.’
‘Did he tell you how badly that well-armed ship was damaged, or that, after what happened, I am a touch short-handed to both sail and fight?’
He glared at Illingworth, who had the good grace to flush slightly, since he’d not even enquired after the two men he’d left in Harry’s care. But Parker smiled, lifting his handsome head just enough to check its quality in the mirror behind Harry’s head. A finger straightened an immaculate eyebrow before he responded.
‘Henry Adams and his sons are excellent shipwrights. No doubt you’ll be out of Buckler’s Hard within the week.’ Harry felt the stiffness of his face, and knew that he’d failed to hide his surprise. ‘That was a job for a midshipman, and one that could be accomplished quickly. I knew you couldn’t be far away from Portsmouth, since you arrived the morning after Rykert brought you in to St Helen’s. Given that you had to find a yard, negotiate the repair, and I presume get some sleep, even with the most favourable wind you could not be more than twenty miles away. So, when Illingworth here outlined the possibility, I instituted a search.’
‘Bucephalas may be gone by now,’ said Harry, although he didn’t believe it. ‘I had a boat off Gull Island for that very purpose.’
Parker only hesitated for a split second, and never once did his face lose that air of superiority which was his abiding trait. Yet still his words carried an air of sudden invention, rather than knowledge.
‘Then I’m glad I had no cause to alarm them. It wasn’t necessary to actually approach the Beaulieu Estuary.’ Parker nodded towards Illingworth. ‘Especially if you acknowledge that a ship with a jury foremast, a spar for a bowsprit, and lacking half her rigging, will be remembered by every fishing boat she passes.’
Parker’s smile had broadened as he spoke. Clearly the man was very pleased with himself, which made Harry angry. In fact he was so irate that he didn’t consider the consequences of deflating his dignity.
‘I will say this once, and not repeat it. Even if my ship was whole, and I was penniless, nothing would induce me to oblige you.’
‘A pity,’ said Parker, still smiling, and totally unfazed by what was clearly hyperbole. Harry was left feeling foolish for having made such a statement, his only aim to underscore his determination not to become involved. The admiral lifted and rang a small bell, the door opening immediately to reveal his flag-lieutenant. ‘Can you ask Captain Vosper to come in?’
‘Sir.’
The alacrity with which the door had been opened worried Harry, having, as it did, a well-rehearsed quality. That was underlined by the speed with which it was repeated, to admit a one-armed captain who had half the side of his face missing, the resulting hollowed-out bones and scar tissue making him look like an ogre.
‘Captain Vosper, of the Impressment Service. Allow me to name Captain Harry Ludlow.’
Vosper only had one eye that worked. The other was glass, which stayed still while the real one moved. With only half a mouth, his voice had a deliberate, lisping quality as he mouthed, ‘Delighted.’
‘As you can understand, Ludlow, with the mutiny in progress, Captain Vosper has been obliged to curtail his normal activities. How many men do you have available, Vosper?’
‘Two hundred, sir.’
‘That many!’ exclaimed Parker, with a degree of surprise that unsettle
d Harry even more.
‘They was spread around the counties, but I was ordered to bring them all into the port to help man the guns at the Southsea fort.’
‘And do your men find that duty congenial?’
‘They do not, sir. They’re used to being their own masters.’
‘Tell me, Ludlow, what would you do with two hundred discontented men from the press? Given, as you say, that I would have no trouble manning boats for a short cruise, perhaps I should send half of them off to Buckler’s Hard. The rest would, of course, land at Lymington so as to close the road and block any exit.’
Harry’s face was rigid, as stiff as the piece of parchment Parker picked up between two fingers. He held it out, and the flowing writing was obvious, just like the seal and ribbon that graced the bottom of the page.
‘Or,’ Parker added in a silky tone, the look of admiration as he perused his reflection adding to the finality of his words, ‘you may accept my offer to extend, in writing, your present exemptions.’
‘The dirty, blackmailing bastard,’ Harry growled. ‘Sitting there smiling all the time he squeezed me.’
That had been bad enough to make his blood boil. But worse was that sod Illingworth prattling on about the trip being financially worth the commission, even if they couldn’t take his ship back. Harry had without reserve given the merchant captain a piece of his mind when they left the admiral’s office.
‘I take it that exit by sea is impossible,’ said James.
Harry shook his head. He didn’t know the state of the ship; it could, for all he knew, be heaved over on the bank. At the first hint of a press gang his lads would scatter. They had two choices, to get lost in the New Forest or walk right into the men Vosper landed at Lymington, a port less than five miles away. Then there were the wounded, a dozen men ashore and under the care of the doctor. The fact that two of them were Illingworth’s was neither here nor there.
Pender looked up, his bloodshot eyes very obvious in his grey face. When he spoke, the rasping voice was a good two octaves lower than normal.
‘What about lying to the bugger? Say you’ll do it then leave him to stew.’
‘Illingworth intends to come with us and handle the actual negotiations for the Lothian.’
‘Makes no odds, Captain,’ Pender growled, ‘we can sling him ashore at Deal the same way we did in the Solent. Let him walk back to Portsmouth if he has the need.’
‘You are in a bilious mood this morning, Pender,’ said James. ‘But I rather fear that my brother may have been forced to give the admiral his word.’
‘Parker would settle for nothing less. And he also hinted that with Lord Spencer in his present mood he could easily have my original exemptions annulled, which would make landing at Deal very tricky even if we could get clear. The liberties of the Cinque Ports only extend to the inner anchorage. And Admiral Duncan, who, Parker was at pains to tell me, is a close personal friend, has a third of his fleet there. Needless to say they are seriously undermanned.’
‘So discretion is the better part of valour,’ said James.
‘It is a valuable prize, Pender, all ours if we can take her, and ten per cent of the recovery value if Illingworth has to stump up. What do you think the men will say?’
‘Seems to me they’ll do as you ask ’em, Captain.’
‘I wish I was as sure as you are.’
‘Who said I was sure?’ Pender rasped. ‘After your black mood and misery anythin’s possible.’ Seeing the effect that had on his captain made Pender feel a little more benign, and a quick drink of watered-down lime juice took some of the crustiness out of his tone. ‘Mind, the thing that will worry them most is risking what they already have.’
‘You’re right. There’s no point in taking that to Normandy and back. Better if it’s ashore with Cantwell’s Bank. Could I ask you to take care of that, James?’
‘The letter?’
‘And the transportation.’
‘On my own!’
‘It’s only a packet of papers, James,’ replied Harry, impatiently.
‘Which has a value, albeit long term, in excess of two hundred and fifty thousand pounds. That means I’ll have to go straight to London.’
‘I’m afraid it does, brother. But if my memory of the Portsmouth coach is accurate, I promise you some faces to draw that would make Hogarth and Gillray green with envy.’
Mary Blackett knocked and entered without waiting to be invited. ‘There’s a gentleman to see you, Captain Ludlow, a Mr Villiers, and he tells me his visit is of an official nature.’
‘Is he navy?’
‘If he is, he’s not uniformed as such. Shall I show him up?’
‘No,’ Harry replied. ‘I don’t have the time to indulge him. Pender, get our dunnage together, plus someone to take it down to the Sally Port, then go ahead and arrange our boat. I need to get hold of some charts, and tell Illingworth that I will require him to bring his steward along.’ James was looking at his brother in a quizzical way. ‘Remember, the man’s a Guernseyman and speaks the local argot.’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
HARRY stood up, and accompanied by James followed Mary Blackett out of the door. The man called Villiers had his back to the stairs, but turned round as he heard them descend.
‘Captain Ludlow,’ he said, in a voice that was less than friendly.
The tone was replicated in his stony, thin face, the intense dark eyes fixed on Harry’s in a most challenging way, though the severity was somewhat spoiled by the drop of mucus on the tip of his nose. Even inside his heavy cloak both brothers could see that he was tall and rangy, with a long neck and prominent adam’s apple which bobbed as he spoke.
‘And who, sir, are you?’ asked James.
The visitor turned to the younger Ludlow, the look still in place. The expression it conveyed was one of outright superiority. James took an instant dislike to him.
‘I gave my name to the lady.’
‘A name conveys nothing,’ James replied. ‘But by your manner you impart a great deal.’
‘Mr Villiers, I believe,’ said Harry.
‘Of Dromana, County Waterford.’
The young man looked at them as though this should carry some weight, which led to a long, slightly confused silence, which was eventually broken by a cough from James. Even if Harry didn’t know what James was thinking, he knew him to be offended. Indeed, he partly shared that same first impression, but didn’t have the time to bait their caller.
‘How do you know who I am?’ Harry demanded.
‘I was at Admiral Parker’s this morning. Leybourne pointed you out to me, but was disobliging when I insisted on being admitted to the admiral’s quarters so that I could question you.’
‘Disobliging?’
The face stiffened, making him look even more gaunt. ‘He does not understand, and therefore will not acknowledge, my function. But that will soon change.’
‘Mr Villiers, I am in a hellfire hurry to get away. If you would be so good as to state your business, I’d be obliged. Otherwise I will have the unpleasant task of sending you packing.’
‘I represent the government, Captain. You will accommodate me voluntarily, or by writ. You were aboard London yesterday, and I have some questions to ask you concerning that, and your singular attachment to the insurrectionists, made manifest by your intervention on their behalf plus your intention to pay for the funeral of the miscreant who was killed.’
‘There were a number of people present, Mr Villiers, ask them.’
‘I need no explanation of the events, Captain, since I have questioned several people, including Admiral Colpoys. He, I must say, was slow to comprehend that your actions, indeed your very presence, might have been less than entirely innocent. But he is of course a sailor, and cannot understand the ramifications of this devilish intrigue.’
‘What is this buffoon talking about, Harry?’ asked James, as Pender, lugging a chest, came down the stairs behind them.
Vi
lliers threw his head back in anger. ‘I warn you, sir, to guard your tongue. There is a conspiracy afoot in this town, as well as aboard His Majesty’s ships. And it is my sworn task to uncover it. If you think that Valentine Joyce’s visit here this morning went unnoticed, you are mistaken. Nor did the fact that he came in the front door but exited elsewhere, which he could not have done without permission.’
‘I bumped into you this morning, outside,’ said Harry.
‘An act which gave Joyce an even better chance to slip away.’
Harry grinned. ‘You should look where you are going, sir.’
‘Which if I’m not mistaken,’ added James, ‘you are just about to do now.’
‘Have a care. The power I have entitles me to delay, and to question, whomsoever I please.’
‘But it does not allow you access to Admiral Parker,’ said Harry, stepping forward. Villiers was blocking the way so Harry gently pushed him aside, an easy task since the man was, for all his height, a featherweight. ‘Nor does it permit you to delay me.’
‘I demand that you tell me what you know.’ His insistence lost all credibility as he fell backwards and the drop of mucus parted company with his nose to land on his collar. His voice rose with a degree of desperation as he continued. ‘I saw Joyce later, talking with four strangers who turned out to be from the Nore squadron. There are Jacobins at work, both here and there. Your conversations with the delegates have been reported to me, Captain Ludlow, particularly the easy nature of your relationship. That and your subsequent actions place you in their camp, sir, which is nothing more than a nest of sedition.’
Harry half turned as he squeezed past. ‘I am in no one’s camp, Mr Villiers. Nor, as far as I can see, is there any Jacobin conspiracy. If the fleet is useless it is because of the people you claim to represent. If you wonder whether I have sympathy with the sailors, let me say unequivocally that I do. But only an idiot would suppose that I had taken part in a conspiracy, if there is one, when I only landed in Portsmouth after the thing had commenced.’
‘This may be your idiot, Harry,’ added James, exerting enough pressure to move his brother on.
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